Chapter 80: Stars and the Continent

Translator: yikaii Editor: yikaii

Helmsman Chu’s words shocked the trio, especially Lu Yang, who thought of even more implications.

When he first joined the Dao Seeking Sect, he was given a rough map of the sect’s territory, marked as covering an area of a hundred thousand li in all directions. What does a hundred thousand li mean? It’s larger than ten Earths laid out! Considering the abilities of the Mahayana and Unity stage powerhouses described in the scriptures, only such a vast place could accommodate their full display of powers. (TL Note: That’s not correct lol. 1 li is 500m or 0.5km. The surface area of the earth is 510.1 million km² so it’s actually 50 000 x 50 000 which is 250 million km² or half the earth’s surface area which is still a lot. Correct me if I’m wrong though.)

The sect had many forbidden areas, mostly used by cultivating powerhouses for dueling, where those of insufficient cultivation would perish if they merely brushed against these areas.

The eldest senior sister’s comment upon their initiation, “The sect cannot be fully explained in a few words, and you will gradually explore it,” wasn’t due to her laziness. The Dao Seeking Sect is indeed so vast that it requires gradual exploration.

This made Lu Yang consider the possibility that the Dao Seeking Sect might be the result of several planets laid out flat!

The territory of the Dao Seeking Sect is just a corner of the Central Continent, making it hard to imagine the true size of the Central Continent!
Helmsman Chu continued, “In the ancient era, there were thousands, if not millions, of life-bearing stars, the exact number now unverifiable.”

“Ancient cultivators, upon reaching the Mahayana stage, did not need artifacts to travel from one star to another. The universe was filled with damaged stars, the result of cultivator battles!”

“The prosperity of the ancient era was truly remarkable, birthing countless myths and legends, and many powerful cultivators.”

“Back then, the measure of a powerful cultivator’s strength was how many planets they could destroy in one strike. The measure of power was how many life-bearing planets were under their command.”

“At the height of ancient prosperity, a being acted. He refined the myriad of stars into one whole continent. Whether they were life-bearing or not, none could escape his grasp.”

“The Central Continent is teeming with life because it was once a life-bearing star, making it the most suitable place for cultivation!”

“The oceans to the east of the Central Continent were once stars covered in water.”

“The Golden Buddha Country to the west of the Central Continent was once an uninhabitable desolate star.”

“The same applies to the Southern Demon Territory and the  Northern Extremes.”

Helmsman Chu’s words were like refreshing their understanding, they had never considered that the land beneath their feet was refined from stars!

This was beyond their imagination!
“Who exactly refined the stars into the continent?” Lu Yang asked.

Helmsman Chu shook his head, not because Lu Yang’s level was insufficient, but because he truly did not know: “It’s beyond verification, but what can be certain is that being was definitely a Celestial!”

Such transcendental power is not something achievable by someone at the Tribulation Crossing stage!
“Why did that being refine stars into a continent, and what method was used, remains a mystery.”

Helmsman Chu continued, “What can be certain is that the method used to refine the stars was extremely brutal, without a shred of compassion. Manipulating stars, how many people living on those stars could survive? Even ordinary cultivators would have a hard time surviving.”

“Those who survived did so not because of their high cultivation, but because of good luck!”

The emergence of prodigies and powerhouses who attempted to intervene was obliterated into mists of blood by that being, vanishing into the cycle of reincarnation.

“Fortunately, The Everlasting Being intervened at that time, saving the majority of the human race, preventing the extinction of humanity.”

“The grand era that reached its zenith shattered and collapsed, leaving a long era without a single genius in sight.”

“Where that being resides now is unknown, but he is definitely not dead. With the coming of the grand era, if that being were to start a massacre, who could stop him?”

“Only The Everlasting Being!”

“For both public and private reasons, we must resurrect The Everlasting Being!”

“Resurrecting The Everlasting Being might result in the death of a small portion of people, but if we don’t resurrect The Everlasting Being, perhaps the entire human race might be destroyed in an instant!”

“It’s lamentable that those of the righteous path, who believe they hold the moral high ground, fail to see that our Everlasting Sect is also sacrificing for the sake of humanity!”

Helmsman Chu spoke decisively, his eyes revealing determination.

From a moral standpoint, their killings were meant to save people; from a personal standpoint, they had a legitimate reason for killing, making it justifiable.

The Everlasting Sect recruits mainly from the demonic path because this rationale resonates most with the psychology of demonic cultivators.

Lu Yang was startled, merely listening to Helmsman Chu’s speech might indeed lead one to devoutly worship The Everlasting Being, praying for salvation.

However, Lu Yang doubted the veracity of Helmsman Chu’s words, or at least believed they represented only part of the truth. He did not believe the Dao Seeking Sect was ignorant of ancient events, nor did he believe the eldest senior sister was unprepared.

Meng Jingzhou asked, “If that’s the case, why not cooperate with the righteous path? Wouldn’t it be easier to succeed together?”

Helmsman Chu scoffed, “Who can guarantee that the being who refined the stars isn’t hiding within the righteous path?”

“After thorough investigation, our founder believed that the being responsible for refining the stars resides within the righteous path, if not among the five major immortal sects, then within the Great Xia Dynasty.”

“Why does the righteous path advocate order, if not to encourage more people to cultivate, making the Central Continent more prosperous?”

“But what after prosperity? Don’t forget the tragic end of the ancient era.”

“Perhaps that being enjoys reaping lives, waiting to act once life flourishes again!”

Helmsman Chu’s words represent the mainstream view of the Everlasting Sect.

Helmsman Chu added, “The stars above us, seemingly hanging in the sky, but if you reach a certain level of cultivation and fly to the universe, you’ll find those are just remnants from the ancient era. Theoretically, there might be some stars that truly exist, but certainly not many.”

Helmsman Chu hoped Lu Yang and his friends would genuinely believe in The Everlasting Being, seeing their shocked expressions, it seemed there was no issue.

“Alright, I know this information is a lot to take in, go back and digest it.”

“Also, you three performed well in the three trials, and the lodge is in need of people right now, most are ‘resting’ in jail. Your cultivation has reached the Foundation Establishment stage, meeting the criteria to become stewards, I’ve considered and decided to promote you to stewards.”

Helmsman Chu gave them three plaques, signifying their status as stewards of the Everlasting Sect.

In fact, Helmsman Chu had intended to make Lu Yang and his friends stewards from the beginning; the series of events just disclosed were only accessible to stewards.

Helmsman Chu suggested, “By the way, you can visit your fellow disciples in jail when you’re free. I’ve heard the food there is terrible, bringing them something to eat can help build relationships.”

Self-interest is paramount in the demonic path, but debts of gratitude and vengeance are also clear. Below him, it’s all about scheming and intrigue, making his position as helmsman challenging.

However, Helmsman Chu wasn’t worried about his subordinates scheming against Lu Yang and his friends, but rather that his subordinates might be outwitted by them.

Lu Yang, all smiles, said, “We’re all brothers in the same sect, we’ll definitely unite and work together for the resurrection of The Everlasting Being, please rest assured, helmsman.”

For some reason, Helmsman Chu felt even less reassured after hearing this.

(End of the chapter)